Jessica Chastain on unfiltered motherhood, female strength and the right to be honest — for PORTER
«I love challenging expectation»
Jessica Chastain is the cover star of the October issue of «Porter Magazine». The 49-year-old actress spoke about filming the horror movie «Other Mommy», female strength, motherhood, her work as a producer and the right to say what you really think — even when it may not be what others want to hear.
For the photoshoot, Chastain wore looks by Valentino Garavani, Anna Sui, Zimmermann and other brands. The shoot was photographed by Cobi Arner, with styling by Carolina Orrico.
For the Oscar-winning actress, horror has long been more than a genre built around monsters and jump scares. Chastain sees it as a space where female characters can be strong and aggressive, without waiting for someone to come and save them.
«I love scaring people. It’s kind of my feminist dream», the actress admitted.
In «Other Mommy», Jessica plays a mother trying to protect her eight-year-old daughter, as well as a terrifying creature that takes on her appearance. According to the star, she was particularly drawn to the idea of contrasting maternal care with a darker, almost predatory side of motherhood.
«The most dangerous animal in the world is a mother. There is an incredible ferocity in maternal instinct, and I really like that», she said.
Chastain also rejects the idea that motherhood must necessarily be an entirely joyful, fulfilling and grateful experience. That is precisely why she was interested in portraying its less comfortable side on screen.
«I love challenging the expectation that women are supposed to be grateful for everything. And that applies to motherhood, too», the actress explained.
Chastain also revealed that she is now much more conscious of the personal cost of her work. Her experience as a producer has changed the way she approaches choosing projects: the script is no longer the only consideration — the conditions in which she will be working matter just as much. In particular, Chastain tries to avoid projects that involve a large number of night shoots.
After working through the night, the actress finds it difficult to return to a normal routine, she explained. So before taking on a new project, she now asks herself a simple question: will working on it be a healthy experience for me? She also considers whether she will be surrounded by people who inspire her, whether the project will push her out of her comfort zone and whether it has the potential to challenge society.
Her work as a producer has given her even more control over which stories make it to the screen. One example is the series «The Savant», in which Chastain plays an undercover specialist who takes on online hate groups.
The project’s premiere was postponed, and the actress publicly said that she believed the decision was a mistake. For her, the situation became an important reminder that being grateful for the opportunity to work does not mean having to remain silent.
«I really needed to say publicly that I thought it was a mistake. I realised that it’s okay to be honest. You can speak honestly while still being kind and respectful. You can remain true to yourself without being afraid that you’ll never get another job because of it», Chastain said.
When it comes to her own family, Jessica continues to maintain firm boundaries. Throughout her career, she has kept her private life away from the spotlight and has no plans to change that.
«That is the best decision I have ever made when it comes to this industry — maintaining that boundary», the actress stressed.
At the same time, Chastain continues her education. She is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School, although her demanding work schedule has led her to take an academic leave for the time being.
«I still feel like a perpetual student», she admitted.
Photo: net-a-porter.com
